Murder She Writes

Out with the old and in with the new.
2005 has been very good to me. I sold 3 books, landed a great agent, made it to my first RWA National Conference, met a lot of new friends and got to know old friends better. I learned to trust my instincts, to shed rules and to my dismay but pleasure, I learned to plot a book. For me, flying by the seat of my pants wasn’t going to fly if I was going to get down to the business of writing regularly. I learned the more time I spent staring out the window wondering what made my characters tick and what their next move would be, wasn’t going to equate to pages written. I also learned how to just write the damn story, not edit every page, not reread what I just wrote, but to write forward.
I also learned that reviewers and critics often don’t see a book the same way I do. And so, I have learned to shrug my shoulders at their opinions. I have learned that I am as thick skinned as I thought I was, and my momentary lapse of neurosis was just that–momentary…for now. I have learned to resist the urge to check Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com standings. I called Ingrams once for stats and was so confused by the numbers I don’t plan to call again. I also don’t go searching for reviews anymore. My friends will send me the good ones and protect me from the bad ones.
I’ve learned that this business of publishing is subjective and you are in many ways only as good as your last book. There aren’t many chances, so I’ve learned being a lazy writer will get me dropped. It also pisses off my CP’s.
Yes, 2005 has been a learning year for me, and I’m looking forward to gleaning much from 2006.
To my new friends, Jen and Deb, at Murder She Writes, I’m so glad to meet you. I wish you good luck, and look forward to a long friendship. To my old friends, Natalie and Allison, rock on ladies, you deserve the best and I’m loving sharing the ride with you both.
To all of our visitors, thank you for your support, stopping by and letting us know what’s on your mind. Mostly thank you for sharing our writing lives and some of our private lives with you. Good friends are hard to come by.
Happy New Year!

On several writing loops, the subject of trends has come up. Most of the conversations have taken a panicky tone, so they caught my attention.

For example:

* Romance suspense is dead
* The chick lit market is tight
* Paranormal is hot, hot, hot, but no more vampires
* All anyone wants is erotic romance

I’m not an expert when it comes to publishing, but I know a little bit about economics. I’m not panicking. And neither should most people.

Chick lit (which encompasses a wide range of female-focused stories that are defined more by tone and voice than subject matter) is following the path of romantic suspense. A few years ago, a couple chick-litty toned books did phenominally well and all the agents and editors were looking for chick lit. A bunch of books were quickly bought and soon brightly-colored covers dominated the trade table at my local Borders.

For a time, these books did very well which spurred even more sales because the demand was fierce, readers couldn’t get enough of these sassy, fun, ironic stories with heroines they related to. But as the supply increased, the books were scheduled further back on the publishing calendar–eighteen months and two years are not uncommon wait times from sale to print.

Now, chick lit isn’t being bought up in vast numbers. Some authors are finding it hard to make that second or third sale. People are calling the market “tight” or “falling.”

I would argue that while selling might be more difficult today than before, the market is not falling. It’s healthy and robust. The simple answer is that supply has met demand. For a brief time, there chick lit saturated the market–supply was greater than demand–so the market pulled back slightly. Now, publishers are looking at the numbers and the trends and determining that readers will purchase X number of chick lit books per month/year and they are adjusting their future purchases because of it. I have read many recent chick lit first sales. The market is not dead. But I’ll bet these new books have a twist, something a little different, and will be marketed slightly different than the chick lits of the recent past.

Good books will sell if they meet the right editor at the right time, no matter what the genre. This is the “luck” factor.

Romantic suspense went through the same growing pains as chick lit. In the mid-late 90s, readers couldn’t get enough romantic suspense. Some writers switched genres, some very successfully, some not. Editors and agents were grabbing up RS all over the place.

The market leveled out, supply met demand — readers had what they wanted.

I was told that romantic suspense was dead, tight, “impossible” for a new author to sell in. But the truth is, there were still all those RS readers out there–they never changed. They still love RS books, and new authors are still being published–just not in the numbers when the market was “hot.” They are being fit in because they offer a new voice, a different twist, or a really good story. And I’d argue that’s the same as historical romances. People still buy them, but the market was saturated for a time and needed to balance out. I just heard about a great, three-book historical sale. The market is balanced, not dead.

The same thing will happen to paranormal and erotic romances. At some point, the readers will have what they want and happily continue to buy their favorite authors, and occasionally pick up a new author. Two years from now, I’ll hear about all the paranormal and erotic authors who tell me that the market is “falling” and I’ll go through all this again.

I think the worst thing an author can do to herself is try to write something that isn’t her voice. When one market is hot, trying to write to that market. I’d argue that sometimes writers need to change with the times, but they can do so without giving up their voice. The blending of genres is quite successful and are usually the breakout novels, particularly for romance writers. Sometimes, it’s finding the right blend for your unique voice. So if I find that my RS sales over time are flat or falling, I won’t jump ship and write chick lit. I can’t. My voice doesn’t fit. But if the historical market is starting to rise, I might take my natural suspense voice and put it in a different time.

Supply and demand. It makes the world go round.

This year I was fortunate enough to have another Christmas with my dad. He turned ninety last June, and although he moves much slower than he did twenty years ago and you have to speak a bit louder when you talk to him, he’s still very mentally and physically active. (Oh, in case you’re calculating here, I’m not THAT old…he was well into his forties when I was born.)

One benefit to having a dad that age is the vast well of wisdom and experience available to you. And since my dad has always been open minded and never afraid or shy about discussing any topic, it’s always been easy for me to tap into his wisdom well whenever I wanted. So, after Christmas dinner, I figured I’d do a little tapping…

“Dad, where did 2005 go? I swear it’s like I went to bed on Christmas night, 2004 and woke to Christmas day 2005. I don’t know where all the days in between went.”

He nods, smiles, and watches my three-year-old nephew run by with a Christmas bow on his head.

“I mean nothing is slow anymore. Why is that? Is the earth moving faster now or something? What about all our so called technological advancements? Weren’t they supposed to save us time? It seems like the more ‘advanced’ we get, the faster time flies by. Why is that?”

He sips his coffee. There’s a twinkle in his eye.

“Think about, Dad. Right now you can look back and remember easier, slower times, so can I. Hell, even my kids can. But what will slower times look like for my grandkids? For my great grandkids? Can you imagine what the world will be like when they have to look back at today, 2005, and say this was their slower time?”

Dad waits a beat before putting a weather-beaten hand over mine on the table. “Close your eyes,” he says.

“Huh?”

“Just close ‘em.”

I did.

“Remember when William ran by here a minute ago?”

“Yeah.”

“What color was the bow on his head?”

“Blue.”

“It was red.”

I frowned.

“What kind of shoes did he have on?”

Frown deepening. “Sneakers.”

“He was barefoot.”

I open my eyes and look around for William. Sure enough, he’s pattering around the kitchen without shoes.

“There were twenty-four hours in a day when I was twenty,” Dad says. “And now that I’m ninety, there are still twenty-four hours in a day. Time hasn’t changed, Punkin’, we have. It only seems to be moving faster because we’re not paying attention to the ‘slow’ things anymore.”

I’m still chewing on that last statement—slowly chewing. Ya know, he may very well be on to something.

I, Natalie R. Collins, author of WIVES AND SISTERS, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, and TWO DAMN BOOKS I HAVEN’T WRITTEN YET BUT AM REQUIRED BY CONTRACT TO WRITE, hereby resolve that in 2006:

1. I resolve that I will NOT obsessively check my Amazon ranking when the paperback of WIVES AND SISTERS comes out in March. I will not. Absolutely not. At a minimum, once a day. Maybe twice. That hourly shit will stop. I resolve. (I am not required by law to make the same claim of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, as it is still scheduled for release in January of 2007. So HA! Talk to me next year.)

2. I resolve that I will NOT get sidetracked every time I sit down to write. There will BE no games of Spider Solitaire. Oh no. No word games. No Bespelled. That game is serious fun, but I swear, none of that stuff. I resolve.

3. I resolve that I will NOT get too attached to my titles. Because if I get TOO attached to my titles, it’s a sure sign they will change. Better yet, perhaps every book should be titled, Collins Proposal # Whatever-the-heck-it-is. Except I have this mental roadblock where I can’t write a book without a title. I have to have the TITLE first. The working title for this next book is BLOOD ATONEMENT. Has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it? NO NO NO. NO attachment. N.O.N.E. Moving on.

4. I resolve that I will finish my next book and then NOT spend the time between when I send it off and when I hear from my editor standing on a tall, tall, ledge, while Jennifer and Karin and Allison and Deborah try to talk me down. I will not. I RESOLVE, dammit.

5. I will not say, “Wow, that would make a great book,” to every crime story I hear on television.

6. I will not say, “Wow, that must hurt,” when everyone who finds out I have written a book tells me, “I just know I have a good book in me.”

7. I will nicely say, “Sorry, I’m not an agent,” to every aspiring writer who emails me their query after perusing my agent listing pages, even though my Web site plainly says I am NOT an agent, just a writer who has provided an AGENT listing. I will even respond nicely to that one lady who accuses me of fraud and having an agenda when I tell her I am not an agent. I haven’t figured out what that agenda IS yet, but when I do, I will make sure and share it.

8. I will be nice to the “agents” who get angry with me when I won’t post their listing on said agent listing just because they have decided to hang out their “agent” shingle. I will calmly explain you have to actually have some sales, and some credentials, etc., before I will list you. I will thank them for threatening to ruin my career, despite the fact that most people in the publishing industry have never heard of them. In fact, most of the people in the publishing industry have not heard of ME! Ruin away. Most of the bigwigs in publishing will say, “Natalie R. Who?” Let the ruination begin.

9. I will not swear. Ever. Well, not hardly ever. At least not five times a day. Okay, maybe not five times an hour. I CAN DO THAT DAMMIT! I can! Ooops.

10. I will not post New Year’s Resolutions ever, ever, again as long as I live. Except maybe next year.

Wow. It’s here. Forget Christmas, the day I’ve REALLY been looking forward to this month has arrived.

P-Day. (Publication Day.)

Karin and I are off to do our first signing, and I’m so relieved to be signing with a friend. Today was my blog day over at the 2BRead blog, so check it out if you’re interested. It’s about not being stressed

And if this is your first time visiting MSW, rest assured that today is unique, we normally don’t engage in a bunch of blatant self-promotion other than our book covers to the right. And if you’re a regular visitor, Natalie will be posting a real blog shortly.

So Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year and, oh, that’s right, and a Joyous P-Day for THE PREY!

This is just a drive by blog. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.

Are you all ready for 2006? Ready or not, the New Year is coming! I want to wish you all a Happy and Safe New Years!

Next year , I promise to post a “real” blog!

‘Twas the night before deadline
and all through the book
not a plot was emerging
no beginning, no hook

My characters were boring
too stupid too live
my hero liked whoring
a shit I could give

I starred at the page
all white and still blank
my emotions near rage
my book all but sank

When outside the house I heard such a clatter
I jumped from the computer to see what was the matter
There in the street I saw such a sight
a big brown truck with one, no, two white lights

The driver was male and all dressed in brown
in a short sleeve shirt and tight shorts he was bound
His calves were ripped taut and chest was heaving
my biggest fear was he’d soon be leaving

He wasted no time and went straight to work
I stumbled out the door and felt like a jerk
there in the truck with packages he made ready
I ran upstairs and searched for a teddy

A few minutes later I heard the bell ring
so I ran down the stairs all ready for a fling

His hair it was dark and curled in places
and his teeth were white without big spaces
with shoulders broad and arms so strong
I naturally assumed he’d have a long dong

I batted my eyes and tried to play coy
all the time wanting this delivery boy toy
he cocked one eye brow and started to grin
he lowered his eyes and then drank me in

“Can I help you,” I said, as suggesting as able
In my mind I was picturing us both on the table
He nodded that nod in that knowing way
and stepped to the threshold for a roll in the hay

In his arms he produced a package square
not the package I wanted but I didn’t dare
for I knew now his purpose was me not to please
but to leave me this package no moment to seize

A box from my publisher had now arrived
My author copies were wrapped inside
Forget about this man in his suit of brown
I had THE HARD STUFF no need to get down

I ripped back the flaps and grabbed a copy
I felt a bit flushed and even sloppy
but there it was, just as I was told
I really am published, I really am sold

Hours later the excitement subsided
I returned to my new book, a direction decided
About an author in the middle of the day
And a delivery man who went out of his way…

I wish I could take full credit for this, but I only planted the seed, hubby ran with it.
Happy Holidays all,

Karin*

I was tagged . . . again . . . which is good and bad. Good, because it gives me something to blog about when I can’t think of something. Bad, because I feel guilty if I don’t do it.

But I still love you, Edie!

Here goes . . .

Seven things to do before I die:

Vacation in Ireland for a summer
Take an Alaskan cruise
Build my dream house
Watch my grandchildren graduate from college (figure that gives me a long enough life since my youngest child is still only 18 months old!)
Go to Disney World
Publish 100 books
Raise my kids to be happy, productive people

Seven things I cannot do:

Change the past
Predict the future
Eat sushi
Skydive
Write comedy
Give up email
Not write

Seven things that attract me to my spouse (significant other):

Sense of humor
Trustworthiness
Loyalty
Loves animals
Intelligence
Ideology
When the going gets tough, he’s there.

Seven things I say (or write) most often:

Good luck
LOL
Are you serious?
Be quiet, the baby’s sleeping
Stop! (yelling, fighting, running in the house, climbing on the counter, chasing the dog, etc)
IMO
Thank you

Seven books (or series) I love:

JD Robb In Death series
Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series
Stephen King’s The Stand
Dean Koontz Watchers
Tess Gerritsen Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles books
Iris Johansen The Search
Edgar Allen Poe

Seven movies I would watch over and over again:

Casablanca
Working Girl
Pirates of the Carribean
My Fair Lady
1776
Star Wars
The Thin Man (series)
North By Northwest
It’s a Wonderful Life
(okay, that’s nine, I cheated, and I could easily add another nine … like The Maltese Falcon … Raiders of the Lost Ark … The Sound of Music … Gigi … and, okay, that’s enough.)

Seven People I want to tag:
This is hard . . . I almost feel like I’m cursing people, LOL.

Elisabeth Naughton
Natalie Collins
Alesia Holliday
Alison Kent
Brenda Bradshaw
Natalie Damschroder
Charlotte Dillon